Play and Create

There is no question in the mind of any educator- play and creative opportunities are powerful engagement and development tools for students. And if you ask most teachers, they will likely tell you their students need more time, not less time, for play and creativity. There is a large body of research that supports their assertions, but did you know that research also shows that play and creativity are just as important for adults as they are for children? These moments relieve stress, improve relationships, improve brain function, stimulate the brain to boost deeper creativity, and keeps us feeling young and energetic.

So if play and creativity are so good for us, why aren’t we doing more of them both? Explore the resources below as you work to find intentional ways to incorporate more play and creativity into your day!

Explore Chapter 10, pages 247-261, of Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators for more detailed support for this month's habit of play and create.

Consider including some of these as the topic of conversation during your weekly mentor/mentee meeting.

Why Adults Need Play, Too!

A World Without Creativity and Play - OnwardIn my research on the habit and disposition of Onward’s Chapter 10, I came across this video: How Society Kills Your Curiosity. It is...

Play is more than just funA pioneer in research on play, Dr. Stuart Brown says humor, games, roughhousing, flirtation and fantasy are more than just fun. Plenty of play in childhood makes for happy, smart adults -- and keeping it up can make us smarter at any age.

Play Doesn't End With Childhood: Why Adults Need Recess TooPlay among children is vital for their social development. So what's in it for adults?

The Neuroscience Behind Creativity - OnwardThis month at Onward we are focused on the habits of play and create as a way to cultivate our resilience. And like most...

What's Your Play Personality?

Have you ever thought about your play personality? Why did you spend so many hours as a child playing the way you did? How do you choose your adult versions of those joys? Take a few moments to explore the resources below if you are curious about the answers to these questions and many more!

What's Your Play Personality? — Reimagine PlayWe all have an inner child that gets unleashed when we're playing. Active play develops important life skills, emotional intelligence and our problem-solving prowess. Take our play personality quiz to see which of Dr. Stuart Brown's eight play personality types fits you, and what can motivate you

What’s Your Play Personality? — The 8 Play Personality TypesDo you remember that feeling as a child when you knew how to have fun?

Play Doesn't Have to Be Complicated

37 Fun Activities That Will Re-Introduce You to the Power of Play — Always Well WithinDo you play every day?  If not, consider the powerful boost play could give your emotional, mental, and physical well-being.  Most notably, play can: Relieve stress when endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals, are released. As an added bonus, endorphins can reduce pa

Some aspects of our definition of play have likely changed as we've matured and experienced this crazy thing called adulthood. But, many of us may still find moments of joy in our childhood versions of play. If you're sitting here thinking, "I don't play anymore," take a few moments to look through these articles. Consider refining or completely changing your definition of play. Play doesn't have to be complicated, but the research is pretty clear - for your physical, mental, and emotional well-being you should be finding ways to weave play back into your life.

Finding Enjoyment in Life - OnwardAre you putting limitations on how you find enjoyment in life? Grandma Gamer: Finding an example of play in an unlikely place. There is...

What's the Coolest Thing You've Ever Done? - OnwardHere at Onward, our focus this month is on the habit of play and create. Our hope is that you have some time this...

18 Fun Socializing Activities for Adults | PartycurrentThese socializing activities for adults are guaranteed to bring your friends even closer together.

5 Ways Board Games Are Good For Your Mental HealthBoard games are experiencing somewhat of a golden age at the moment. I’m not just talking about classics like Monopoly, Scrabble and Cluedo. If you go into you

Video Games Could Hold Untapped Potential in Treatment of Mental IllnessA new report found that video games can help alleviate depression and anxiety, potentially expanding access to mental health care worldwide.

How Doing Puzzles Can Benefit Your Mental Health (and More!)What are the benefits of puzzles for adults? Learn how puzzle solving can improve your mental health, mood, productivity, IQ, and more.

Sudoku May Keep Your Brain YoungerAccording a recent study, the more people over 50 engage in games such as Sudoku and crossword puzzles, the better their brains function.

The Benefits of Creativity

Play and creativity really go hand-in-hand. Play opens up doors for exploring your creative side. And as you find yourself immersed in creative opportunities, you find yourself tapping more into your sense of play and maybe finding new forms of play to explore. As with play, the benefits of creative expression, in all it's forms, are hard to deny.

Your Brain on Creativity - OnwardEver wonder what is happening in your brain when you use your imagination and are creative? I thought this was a perfect way to...

Can Creativity Help During Stressful Times? - OnwardI am always on the lookout for stress-reducing ideas. I consider myself a pretty calm person (I have a regular yoga and meditation practice...

The Psychology of Creativity - OnwardI am loving The Psychology Podcast by Scott Barry Kaufman these days. This month as we focus on the habit of play and create,...

Boosting Resilience Through CreativityCreativity is a resource for coping with stress—and it can be as simple as just asking questions to enhance our sense of wonder.

Getting Creative

What's your favorite creative outlet? How do you tap into this resource on a regular basis? The same message applies here as it did to play-boosting your creativity does NOT have to be complicated. Sometimes we just need to shift our mental models a bit to recognize all of the tiny moments throughout the day where we can tap into our creativity. Hopefully the articles below will give you a jump start on that work....and then you can just get creative!